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Chapter 10: The Senju Compound
Class soon ended, and I packed up my things, ready to head out. Tsunade was waiting by the door, her arms crossed, but something about her was different today. She was quieter than usual, and as we left the Academy together, I couldn't help but feel a strange tension in the air—not a bad kind of tension, but one that made me feel like something was on the verge of changing.
We walked side by side toward the Senju Compound, the silence between us lingering longer than it usually did. Normally, Tsunade would be quick to start a conversation, teasing me about my training or bragging about her progress. But today, she was unusually introspective, her gaze fixed on the path ahead, her lips pursed like she was holding back words she wasn't sure she wanted to say.
It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but it left me with a sense of premonition. Something felt different. Could she be... thinking the same thing I was? That maybe, just maybe, our friendship was shifting into something more? The thought made me pause for a second. Tsunade, the fiery girl who could punch through walls, might actually have feelings for me? The idea was both exciting and terrifying.
We finally arrived at the Senju Compound. It was even more impressive up close than I had imagined. The large, traditional mansion was surrounded by towering trees, giving the place a secluded and peaceful vibe. The wooden architecture, with its ornate carvings and strong lines, exuded history. You could feel the weight of the past hanging in the air, the kind of past that shaped legends.
As we approached the entrance, a maid greeted us with a polite bow. "Welcome home, Lady Tsunade. And you must be Akira," she said with a warm smile.
I returned the smile. "Yes, thank you for having me."
The maid led us through the grand halls of the mansion, and as I walked, I couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship. Everything here was meticulously designed, from the wooden beams that lined the ceilings to the paintings that hung on the walls. The atmosphere was serene, but there was an underlying sense of power, a reminder of the clan's legacy.
Eventually, we arrived at a large room, where an elegant woman sat sipping tea. Her red hair, streaked with white, was tied in a loose braid, and her sharp, yet kind eyes immediately landed on us. Mito Uzumaki—wife of the First Hokage and one of the most powerful kunoichi in history.
"Ah, Tsunade, you've brought your friend," Mito said, her voice warm but carrying an air of authority. She glanced at me with an amused smile. "Akira, is it? I've heard a lot about you."
I bowed slightly out of respect. "It's an honor to meet you, Lady Mito."
Mito waved her hand dismissively, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. "No need for that, dear. You're a friend of Tsunade's, so that makes you practically family." She glanced at Tsunade, her smile widening. "It's not every day Tsunade brings a boy home, after all."
Tsunade's face immediately flushed a deep red, and she shot her grandmother an embarrassed glare. "Grandma! Stop saying weird things!"
"Oh? Weird?" Mito leaned back, her grin widening. "I just find it curious, that's all. I haven't seen you act this shy around anyone before, Tsunade. Could it be that—"
"Grandma!" Tsunade cut her off, her face practically glowing now. She crossed her arms and turned away, muttering, "I don't get shy. You're just imagining things."
Mito laughed softly, clearly enjoying her granddaughter's flustered reaction. "Oh, darling, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's perfectly natural at your age to start—"
"Can we change the subject already?" Tsunade interrupted, her voice bordering on a growl. She gave me a quick glance, her face still red, before quickly looking away.
I couldn't help but chuckle a bit at her reaction, though I decided it was probably best not to tease her any further—at least for now.
Mito, however, wasn't quite done. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you two alone." She turned to me with a wink. "But Akira, do keep in mind—Tsunade doesn't like to lose, especially when it comes to matters of the heart."
Tsunade nearly choked, her eyes widening in panic. "That's enough, Grandma!" she hissed, her voice somewhere between embarrassment and outrage. "He's just a friend! That's all!"
Mito's laughter echoed softly through the room. "Of course, dear. Whatever you say."
The rest of the conversation was light, though Mito occasionally gave me those knowing looks, as if she already had everything figured out. Eventually, after what felt like an eternity for Tsunade, Mito stood and stretched.
"Well, I won't keep you any longer. Go on and enjoy yourselves," she said, giving me one last teasing smile. "And Akira, don't let Tsunade win too easily when you spar. She tends to get a bit sulky when she loses."
Tsunade sputtered, her face turning red again. "I do not!"
Mito just waved us off with a chuckle. "Run along, now."
As we left Mito's room, Tsunade was still fuming, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "Don't listen to her," she muttered. "She's just being annoying."
I smiled. "She's pretty sharp, though. Seems like she knows you pretty well."
Tsunade shot me a quick glare but didn't say anything. Her arms were crossed, and she kept her eyes fixed on the path ahead, her lips pressed together in that stubborn way she always had when she was annoyed.
We wandered deeper into the compound, passing through the grand halls and heading toward the training grounds. But as we turned a corner, we unexpectedly ran into someone else—someone far more intimidating than Mito.
Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, stood at the end of the hall, his sharp eyes scanning over us as we approached. His white hair and serious expression made him look every bit as imposing as I'd imagined. He wasn't just any ninja—he was a living legend, a man whose very presence commanded respect.
"Tsunade. Akira," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I've heard good things about your progress at the Academy."
I bowed slightly out of respect. "Thank you, Lord Second. I'm doing my best."
Tobirama nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before turning to Tsunade. "Your friend has potential. Keep working hard, both of you."
Then, without another word, he continued walking, his form disappearing down the hallway. Even after he was gone, the weight of his presence remained, a reminder of the expectations placed upon us—especially on Tsunade.
We eventually made our way to the training grounds. Tsunade, still flustered from Mito's teasing and our encounter with Tobirama, crossed her arms again and glanced at me. "You better not go easy on me just because Grandma said something," she muttered, still clearly embarrassed.
I smirked. "I wouldn't dream of it."
"Good," she shot back, her usual fire returning to her eyes. But then, as she turned to face me, a slight blush crept back onto her cheeks. She quickly looked away, trying to hide it. "Let's just get this over with."
I couldn't help but laugh softly. Maybe Mito was right—there was more to this than just friendship. But for now, I wasn't going to push it. We had time.
With that, we started our sparring, the tension from earlier gradually fading as we both focused on the task at hand. Still, every now and then, I couldn't help but notice the way Tsunade would glance at me, her expression softening for just a moment before she threw herself back into the fight.
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